Remote depository construction

ABSTRACT

A depository construction for accepting bank deposits at an unattended deposit station unit which may be installed as an individual unit or in conjunction with remote automatic cash dispensing banking equipment. The depository procedure is initiated for automatic operation by pressing a button, use of a key or the insertion of a customer identifying card. A horizontal entry slot is opened to accept a deposit-containing envelope having a predetermined maximum size and maximum thickness when filled. The inserted envelope automatically is power conveyed slightly upward during an operating cycle from the deposit station through the opened entry slot into a security chamber. The entry slot is closed on arrival of the envelope at the security chamber and a receipt number and preferably other selected transaction data is printed on the deposit envelope. At the same time, identical data is printed on a receipt. The deposit envelope then is discharged through an exit opening from the security chamber to a deposit chest. Passage of the envelope to the deposit chest is sensed and then the receipt is delivered to the depositor-customer at the deposit station. A pivoted or rocking control member closes the exit opening when the entry slot is opened, and the exit opening is opened when the entry slot is closed. The entry slot preferably closes after a predetermined time interval if no deposit is made during such time interval. The operation of the various components of the depository mechanism is coordinated to protect the deposit at all times, once operation of the mechanism is initiated and completed by the issuance of a receipt after the deposit envelope has safely reached the deposit chest.

[ Sept. 17, 1974 United States Patent 91 Grossvviller, Jr. et al.

mote automatic cash dispensing banking equipment. The depository procedure is initiated for automatic REMOTE DEPOSITORY CONSTRUCTION operation by pressing a button, use of a key or the inmm .A

mun r &

a" of Ohio sertion of a customer identifying card. A horizontal entry slot is opened to accept a deposibcontaining en- Diebold, Incorporated Ohio Leipelt, Canton,

, Canton,

[ Assigneel velope having a predetermined maximum size and maximum thickness when filled. The inserted enve- [22] Filed: May 3, 1973 lope automatically is power conveyed slightly upward during an operating cycle-from the deposit station [21] Appl. No.: 356,715

through the opened entry slot into a security chamber. The entry slot is closed on arrival of the envelope at the security chamber and a receipt number and preferably other selected transaction data is printed on the deposit envelope. At the same time, identical data is printed on a receipt. The deposit envelope then is discharged through an exit opening from the security chamber to a deposit chest. Passage of the envelope to the deposit chest is sensed and then the receipt is de- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS livered to the depositor-customer at the deposit station. A pivoted or rocking control member closes the hm we mm rfl mm 40 36 99 ll 22 1 The entry slot preferably closes after a predetermined M t e r e b a r G 2 6 9 1 4 2/1963 McGee time interval if no deposit is made during such time izz izgolrsgizzszzizi.t: zszrzszaizzr zz sxzzi Attorn A t, F

gen or Firm rease & Blshop the depos1t at all times, once operation of the mechanism is initiated and completed by the issuance of a receipt after the deposit envelope has safely reached the deposit chest.

ABSTRACT A depository construction for accepting bank deposits at an unattended deposit station unit which may be installed as an lndividual unit or in con unctlon with re- 27 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIEU SEP 1 7:974

WI" I I SHEET 1 BF 5 FIG.

REMOTE DEPOSITORY CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the lnvention The invention relates to equipment to service bank deposits at unattended'stations remote from a banks central office. It accepts deposits automatically from authorized persons or bank customers. The depository equipment desirably may be combined with automatic currency dispensing equipment so that various banking services may be conducted at a remote unmanned station continuously, day in and day out, 24 hours a day.

The depository equipment permits the customer to carry out a financial deposit transact-ion without the help of any banking personnel, and to obtain an identifying receipt matching identifying indicia printed on the material depositedQThe receipt is only issued to the customer after the deposited material has been discharged to a deposit chest.

2. Description of the Prior Art After-hour or night depository equipment of various types has been used for receiving customer deposits at a banking institution outside in banking hours. Such depository devices are shown, for example in U.S. Nos.

3,059,839, 3,] l4,499 and 3,615,050. In general, such bank after-hourdepositories require the use of a customer key to open a door for acceptance of a bag or other container of considerable size or bulk. They frequently also have accessible envelope deposit slot means covered by an unlocked movable door through which an envelope may be inserted merely by opening the door. These after-hour devices are feasible when the depository unit is located at the bank building.

However, remote banking equipment with proper security protection at all times should have the deposit entry slot positively closed and inaccessible except when a deposit is being made by an authorized person, such as a customer having a personal identificationtype card who uses the card to initiate operation of the depository mechanism. A key of course, can be used in place of the card to initiate operation of the mechanism. Or a key or card may be used, followed by pressing a button to start the mechanism.

Furthermore, where remote deposit banking operations are being carried out, it is necessary as a practical matter, that a receipt of some kind be issued to the customer. The receipt must have an identifiable connection between it and the deposited material, as by'presenting the same receipt number to both the receipt and the deposit envelope.

At the same time, it is vital in the operation and use of remote depository equipment to protect the deposited material while the receipt preparing operation is being carried out, and to withhold issuing the customers receipt to the customer until the deposited material has been discharged to the deposit chest.

The usual prior night depository units, such as those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,059,839, 3,114,499 and 3,61 5,050,. do not combine the features described and necessary to be incorporated in a remote unattended depository station unit; and insofar as we are aware, the prior art is lacking in depository constructions having the security and the cooperative identifying receipt facilities described.

There exists a need in the field of bank depository services for an unmanned customer service facility remote from a main bank building, but available at all times to customers establishing authorized identity for carrying out a bank deposit operation, while providing maximum security for the deposited material and issuing a receipt for the same; it being understood that such remote depository equipment may be combined with remote unmanned customer currency dispensing equipment, both energized, rendered accessible or actuated by the same customer identification means.

. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objectives of the invention include providing new remote depository equipment which may be actuated by or following the insertion of a customer identifying card or use of a key to open door means normally protectively closing a deposit entry slot which communicates with a security chamber; providing positive conveyor mechanism for conveying a deposit envelope introduced into the energy slot, from the entry slot to a security chamber, the exit opening of which is closed while the entry slot is open and vice versa; providing printing means for printing matching data or indicia simultaneously on the deposit envelope while in the security chamber, and upon a receipt form located at a zone spaced from the deposit envelope in the security chamber; providing means for conveying the deposit envelope from the security chamber to discharge it to a deposit chest; providing sensing means identifying the complete discharge of the deposited envelope from the security chamber to the deposit chest for actuating delivery of the printed receipt to the customer at the deposit station; providing rocking-type double ended closure means for the entry slot and exit opening means for the security chamber, which loses one opening when the other is opened and vice versa; and providing a construction which is simple in arrangement and operation, which may be easily serviced, which is composed of rugged components difficult to damage by an intruder, and which satisfies the indicated objectives.

These and other objects and advantages may be obtained by a bank depository construction which in general terms may be stated as including walls forming a vault-like chest, a deposit unit extending through one of the chest walls having an exterior frame including a unit protective wall, a slot-like entry opening formed in the protective wall, a receipt-delivery opening formed in the protective wall, walls forming a security chamber in the unit having an entry endcommunicating with the entry opening and an exit end communicating with the chest; rocking door means mounted in the unit for movement between open and closed positions having spaced forward and rear barriers, the forward barrier in the open door means position blocking communication between the security chamber exit end and chest and establishing such communication when the door means is in closed position, and the rear barrier in the open door means position establishing communication between the security chamber entry end and the entry opening and blocking such communication when the door means is in closed position; power means in the unit for moving the door means to open and closed positions; power conveyor means activated upon opening the door means for moving a deposit envelope into, through and discharging it from the security chamber; means actuating the door means power means to move the door means to closed position upon arrival of the deposit envelope in the security chamber; deposit env'elope printing means in the unit operative upon closing the door means to apply identifying indicia on the deposit envelope while the envelope is in the security chamber; receipt form printing means in the unit operative to apply the same said identifying indicia on a receipt while the envelope is in the security chamber; means actuated upon discharge of the deposit envelope from the security chamber into the chest operative to deliver the receipt through the receipt delivery opening to the exterior of the unit; and means accessible for actuation by a bank customer operative when actuated to activate the door means power means to open the door means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention illustrate of the best modes in which applicants have contemplated applying the principles are set forth in the following description and are'particularly and distinctly pointed out in the appended claims.

FIG. I is a fragmentary somewhat diagrammatic front elevation of a portion of remote banking equipment illustrating the improved depository construction;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 2--2, FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged somewhat diagrammatic sectional view of the depository mechanism taken on the line 3-3, FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 3 showing the depository entry slot open and a deposit envelope being inserted;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the deposit envelope delivered to the security chamber with the entry slot still open;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 showing the depository envelope and a separate receipt being simultaneously stamped with similar identifying indicia while the entry slot is closed;

fIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, illustrating the pusher conveyor moving the identified envelope out of the security chamber;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 to 7 showing the deposit envelope being discharged to the storage chamber;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged section on line 99, FIG. 3; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 3 ofa modified form of conveyor construction.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment A remote unattended deposit station unit incorporating the concept of the invention is indicated generally at 1 in the drawings. As shown, the deposit unit I may be installed at the proper level in a wall 2 ofa vault-like structure 3, which may be built to form security protection against unauthorized access to equipment or objects housed within the structure 3.

A deposit chest 4 may be incorporated within structure 3 for receiving and protecting material deposited therein. Access for removing the contents of chest 4, by

bank personnel at the proper time may be gained to the interior of the deposit chest 4 through vault door means diagrammatically indicated at 5 in FIG. 2.

A frame 6 for deposit unit I is mounted on the exterior of the wall 2, from which a shelf-like platform 7 extends upwardly rearwardly to a recessed wall 8, which is in front of a protective wall 9. Lighting means 10 may be located inside of the frame 6 spaced above the platform 7, and a compartment 11 having a hinged cover or door 12 is located above the lighting means 10 for storing deposit envelope to be used by customers in making deposits.

The recessed wall 8 and protective wall 9 preferably are formed with two slot-like openings 13 and 14. Opening 13 is a horizontal entry slot through which deposit-containing envelopes may be introduced into the deposit unit 1. Opening 14 is a similar but smaller slot through which a receipt is delivered to the customer after the deposited material has been discharged into deposit chest 4.

The entry slot 13 preferably is formed by a rectangular funnel-like sheet metal structure 15, the inner end 16 of which projects through protective wall 9 to a location adjacent upper and lower metal walls 17 and 18.

Walls 17 and 18 form a security chamber 19 mounted within housing walls 20 and 21 located behind protective wall 9 and extending into chest 4.

The upper security chamber wall 17 (FIG. 9) extends between vertical support plates 22 and 23 which project upward from base flanges 24 and are mounted on the lower wall portion 21a of housing wall 21. The lower security chamber wall 18 also extends between vertical plates 22 and 23. The upper and lower security chamber walls 17 and 18 at certain locations are formed with openings or slots to accommodate elements of the mechanism which project through the walls, described below.

The entry end 25 of the security chamber 19 is located closely adjacent to the inner end 16 of funnel member 15. Security chamber 19 slopes upward on the same slope provided for the shelf-like platform 7 to the security chamber exit end 26.

Upper and lower chute walls 27 and 28 mounted on the housing walls 20 flare outwardly from the exit end 26 of security chamber 19 and form a discharge chute 29 for the chamber 19 directed into chest 4. The entry slot 13, the security chamber 19 and discharge chute 29 form a communicating path from platform 7 to chest 4 through which a deposit envelope travels, as described below upon being entered into the unit 1.

A shaft 30 is journaled on and extends between and through support plates 22 and 23 below and adjacent the entry end 25 of security chamber 19 (FIGS. 3 and 9). The shaft 30 is driven by intake motor 31, pulleys 32 and 33 and belt 34, pulley 33 being mounted on the end of shaft 30. Spaced entry feed rolls 35 are keyed to shaft 30 adjacent the support plates 22 .and 23. A secondary shaft 36 held by screws 37 on the outer end 38 of movable plate 39, is pivotally mounted at 40 on the upper security chamber wall 17. The outer end 38 of plate 39 is spring biased by spring 41 toward wall 17.

A pair of follower rolls 42 is journaled on shaft 36 above and cooperating with entry feed rolls 35, against which the rolls 42 are biased. Rolls 35 and 42 preferably are rubber covered as indicated at 35a and 420 so as to engage and feed a deposit envelope into the unit 1 when the envelope is manually pushed into entry slot 13, as described below. A limit switch 43 is mounted on plate 39 to signal movement of rolls 42 toward and away from rolls 35.

A sleeve 44 is journaled on shaft between entry feed rolls (FIG. 9), and chain sprockets 45, 46 and 47 are mounted on sleeve 44 spaced axially of shaft 30.- The middle sprocket 46 is driven through chain 48 by chain drive motor 49. The drive from motor 49 to sprocket 46 is transmitted through sleeve 44 to sprockets and 47 and through a pair of chains 50 and 51 to sprockets 52 mounted on a shaft 53 extending between plates 22 and 23 below the exit end 26 of security chamber 19. I

Pusher fingers 54 and 55 are mounted at spaced intervals on chains 50 and 51. When the components of the depository station unit 1 are at rest ready tobe actuated to carry out an automatic deposit operation, the forward pusher fingers 54 are located as shown in FIG. 3 at the exit end 26 of security chamber 19 obstructing the security chamber exit end 26 from having an envelope pushed out of the security chamber 19. At this time, the rear pusher fingers 55 are located as shown in FIG. 3 below the lower security chamber wall 18.

The pusher fingers 54 and 55 during movement of chains 50 and 51 project through slots 56 formed in the lower chamber wall 18 and also extend into and move through the security chamber 19.

Similarly, the entry feed rolls 35 and follower rolls 42 project through openings 57 and 58 formed in the lower and upper security chamber walls 18 and 17.

A rocker-type door 59 is pivotally mounted on trunnions 60 journaled in plates 22 and 23. This rockertype door 59 acts as a rocking control member for the entry and exit ends 25 and 26 of securitychamber l9. Door 59 is generally rectangular in shape and movable between the closed position shown in FIGS. 3, 6, 7 and 8 and the open position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Door 59 is frame-like in shape having longitudinal side members 61 and end blocking members comprising the forward barrier 62 and the rear barrier 63. The rear barrier 63 is formed with a transverse slot 64 which is concealed when the door 59 is in the closed position of FIG. 3 so that the rear barrier 63 closes or blocks the entry slot 13. At this time the forward barrier 62 clears the exit end of security chamber 19, as shown in FIG. 3.

When the door 59 is in the open position of FIG. 4, the transverse slot 64 in rear barrier 63 is aligned with the entry slot 13 and the open entry end 25 of the security chamber 19. Movement of the frame-like rockertype door 59 between open and closed positions is controlled by a rotary solenoid 65 operatively connected to one of the trunnions 60 for the door 59. A door lock solenoid 66 is mounted on one of the housing walls 20 and has a plunger 66a which engages opening 66b in door member 61 to lock the door 59 in closed position, shown in FIG. 3.

Photoelectric cell means 67 and 68 are mounted on chute walls 27 and 28 and project a light beam across the discharge chute 29 for a purpose described below.

A deposit envelope printer generally indicated at 69 and a similar receipt printer generally indicated at 70 are mounted within th housing formed by walls 20 and 21. Each printer has a movable pressure platen 71 and a fixed head 72.

The deposit envelope printer 69 has a housing illustrated in full lines in FIG. 3 at .73 located below the security chamber 19 and offset to one side of the longitudinal center line of the security chamber 19. Printer housing 73 preferably is aligned with a left-hand pair of rolls 35 and 42, shown in FIG. 9, and the fixed head 72 of printer 69 is located just below the path of travel and adjacent one edge of an envelope which may travel through the security chamber 19. Printer 69 may be a standard printer mechanism and may have a ribbon, diagrammatically indicated at 74, and several printing wheels 75 and 76, one of which will apply consecutive numbers and the other of which may apply the date and time of day when printer 69 is actuated.

The movable pressure platen 71 may have a yielding rubber-like facing 77 and is actuated for movement by a solenoid 78 to press pressure platen 71 and its rubber facing 77 against an envelope beneath the pad to in turn press the envelope against ribbon 74 and printer wheels 75 and 76.

The receipt printer 70, its platen 71 and fixed head 72 may duplicate the printer 69 in construction and operation, excepting that the receipt is printed on a paper web or tape 79 fed from a supply roll 80 under the fixed head 72 of printer 70 and around guide rolls 81 and 82 and feed roll 83 engaging guide roll 82 and secondary roll 84. The printer wheels 75and 76 and the solenoid 78 of receipt printer 70 are operated simultaneously with and their operation synchronized with the operation of deposit envelope printer 69 so that the same identifying number is printed on the receipt tape 79 that is prined on an envelope in the security chamber 19. I

The printed receipt is not delivered until the completion of a depositing cycle described below. However, when the receipt is delivered, it is fed through the receipt slot 14, as indicated by the arrow 85 in FIG. 3, and as a part of the receipt delivery the receipt 85 is cut from the tape or web by a shear 86 which when actuated maintains the receipt slot 14 closed until it is time to deliver a subsequent receipt.

OPERATION Typical operation of the automatic depositing cycle carried out in the use of the deposit unit 1 incorporating the concepts of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 8. A deposit envelope 87, such as shown in FIG. 3, may have been filled by a bank customer with the material to be deposited. The envelope 87 may have been one stored in the envelope storage compartment 10 and the customer may have used the shelf7 for preparing the deposit envelope 87 and for filling out a typical deposit slip, for example, enclosed in the deposit envelope with the material to be deposited.

The deposit envelope 87 may be any type or kind of envelope provided that it does not exceed a certain maximum size, such for example as the size of the usual No. 10 business envelope, which may be about 4 k X 10 inches. Meanwhile, the customer will actuate the unit 1 either before or after preparing the filled deposit envelope 87. If unit 1 is a part of a remote banking station which also has cash dispensing equipment, then the use of the equipment at the station may have been initiated by the customer entering a typical magnetic identification card following which a button, indicated at 88 in FIG. 1, is pressed to initiate operation of the depository unit 1.

If the depository unit I constitutes a remote deposit station by itself, it can be energized merely by pressing the button 88, or by using a key to unlock the equiment, or by the insertion ofa customer-identifying card into a slot provided in the equipment. The customeridentifying card may be any type issued by or recorded by the bank, or the key may be a key supplied by the bank to unlock any kind of bank depository. The key lock which the key fits, or identifying card receiver are not shown, but are represented diagrammatically by the button 88 in FIG. 1, since any of the indicated means of energizing the equipment may be used.

The unit 1 is shown in FIG. 3 in the closed position prior to being energized or activated. When the deposit button 88 or its equivalent is pressed, circuitry connected therewith and with the various solenoids, motors and control mechanisms initially energize the door lock solenoid 66 to retract plunger 66a and unlock the door 59. Rotary solenoid 65 then is energized to rock the door 59 counterclockwise (viewing FIG. 3) from the position of FIG. 3 to that of FIG. 4. At this time the transverse slot 64 in door rear barrier 63 is aligned with the entry slot 13, and the door front barrier 62 blocks the exit end 26 of security chamber 19 and also blocks movement of the forward pusher fingers 54, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

At the same time, the intake motor 31 is energized driving entry feed rolls 35 counterclockwise (FIG. 3) with follower rolls 42 biased as yielding pinch rolls against entry feed rolls 35.

The customer then manually pushes the deposit envelope 87 into entry slot I3, through transverse slot 64 and into the entry end 25 of security chamber 19 until the leading edge of deposit envelope 87 is engaged by the rolls 35-42. The feed and follower rolls 35-42 then convey the deposit envelope 87 into the security chamber 19, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The envelope 87 thus arrives at a location within security chamber 19, as generally illustrated in FIG. 5, at which time the envelope extends between the pressure platen 71 of deposit printer 69 and the fixed head 72 thereof.

As the trailing end of envelope 87 leaves the pinch of rolls 35-42, roll 42 moves back to the position of FIG. 3 from that shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 3, or in full lines in FIG. 4. Such return of follower rolls 42 to the position of FIG. 3 activates limit switch 43 which energizes rotary solenoid 65 to rock door 59 clockwise from the position of FIG. to that of FIG. 6, thereby interposing rear barrier 63 across entry slot 13 to close the entry slot. At the same time, the front barrier 62 of door 59 raises to open the exit end 26 of security chamber 19 and to unblock the forward pusher fingers 54.

As the door 59 moves to the position of FIG. 6, the door lock solenoid 66 is actuated to project plunger 660 into opening 66b and lock the door 59 in the closed position. At this time, which may be simultaneously with the locking of the door 59in closed position by the door lock solenoid 66, the printers 69 and 70 are simultaneously and synchronously actuated to print one of the consecutive numbers presented by the wheel 75 on the envelope 87 and on a section of the receipt tape 79 which at the moment is located between the platen 71 and head 72 of the receipt printer 70. As indicated, the printing wheel 76 also may print the date and time of day on the deposit envelope 87 and on the receipt sectron.

As the printers 69 and complete their printing operations, chain drive motor 49 is energized to move the pusher fingers 54 and 55 in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 7, and the rear pusher fingers 55 engage the trailing end of the deposit envelope 87 pushing it out of security chamber 19, as shown initially in full lines in FIG. 7 and also in dot-dash lines in FIG. 8, until the envelope 87 has been discharged through discharge chute 29 into deposit chest 4 (FIG. 8).

As the trailing edge 87a of deposit envelope 87 (FIG. 8) passes through he beam 89 between the photoelectric cells 67 and 68, such passage is sensed and cells 67-68 signal the feed roll 83 for the receipt tape 79 to discharge the already printed receipt from printer 70 to an accessible position, indicated at 85 in FIGS. 3 and 8, where the customer may receive the receipt that meanwhile has been severed by shear 86 as a part of the delivery sequence.

Meanwhile, the chain drive motor 49 continues to operate until the chains 50 and 51 and pusher fingers 54 and 55 reach the position of FIGS. 3 and 8, at which time all components are deenergized and the equipment is ready for the next depositing cycle which may be initiated in the manner described.

Meanwhile, if a deposit envelope 87 is not entered through entry slot 13 when the latter has been opened within a given time, say 15 to 30 seconds after opening, the door 59 will move to the closed position automatically and will require reactivation by again pushing button 88, or inserting an identification card, or unlocking a key lock.

Although not shown, another set of photoelectric cells similar to cells 67 and 68 may project a beam within the deposit unit between the door rear barrier 63 and the entry slot 13 so that the door cannot close on a deposit envelope just being entered into the equipment at the end of the given time interval for accepting insertion of a deposit. The beam in such event is interrupted by the envelope being inserted.

To summarize, the operational steps carired out in use of the new equipment involve pushing a button or inserting an indentification card or unlocking with a key to energize the equipment, which opens a door-like closure for an entry slot and the door stays open for say 15 to 30 seconds and then closes if no deposit is made. An opening of the door, which significantly forms a part ofa rocking type closure, intake conveyor mechanism starts which transfers a deposit envelope from a customer into a security chamber. The passage of the envelope into the chamber is sensed, the intake conveyor stops, the door is closed and locked, and then a printing mechanism is energized which prints a receipt number and preferably a time and date on the deposit envelope in the security chamber and also separately on a receipt slip portion of a paper tape. Then a pusher type conveyor mechanism operates to discharge the deposit envelope from the security chamber to a deposit chest. Passage of the deposit envelope to the chest is sensed, which triggers operation of a feed mechanism to feed the printed receipt slip through a receipt slot to the exterior of the equipment for delivery to the customer.

An important facet of the concept involves the rocking closure means which opens the entry slot communicating with a security chamber and closes the exit opening from the security chamber so that a deposit envelope may be fed to the security chamber and there held secure for printing an identification number thereon after the rocker type door has closed the entry slot and opened an exit opening from the security chamber.

The next facet of the concept is the closing of the door automatically within a predetermined time in the event that a deposit is not made within the given time.

Another facet of the concept is the ability to use any kind or type of envelope up to a predetermined size for containing and introducing the deposit material into the deposit unit.

Another-facet of the concept is the preparation of a receipt with the same identifying number that is applied to the deposit envelope; and the holding of the receipt for delivery to the depositor through a protected slot, after the deposit envelope has been discharged to the deposit chest.

Another facet of the concept is the powered conveyance of the deposit envelope into the security chamber andthe subsequent powered conveyance thereof but of the chamber.

Another facet of the concept is the use of a rocking door mechanism which protects the entry slot and is synchronized with closure of the exit slot for the security chamber so as to control the exit in such a way that when the entry slot is open the exit slot is positively closed, and vice versa.

' lope from the security chamber has been illustrated and described in the First Embodiment as comprising a chain drive with pushers, this discharge drive mechanism may involve a belt drive mechanism described below under the heading of Second Embodiment, wherein the belt drive also may be used to feed the deposit into the security chamber.

SECOND EMBODIMENT A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 10, and indicated generally at 90. The depository unit 90 is quite similar in construction and operation to the depository unit 1 of FIGS. 1 through 9, except for the feeding or conveying mechanism in FIG. which comprises a single drive motor 91 and a belt drive through belt 92, and a belt pulley on shaft 93. Shaft 93 in turn, has belt pulleys 94 at either end thereof which drive a pair of spaced belts 95 which are trained over belt pulleys 96 on shaft 97 at the exit end of the security chamber 19 formed by upper and lower walls 17a and 17b.

The upper runs of belts 95 are supported intermediate the pulleys 94 and 96, by belt support pulleys 98 on intermediate shaft 99.

Pinch rolls 100, 101 and 102 which may move by gravity or be spring pressed toward pulleys 94, 98 and 96, respectively, provide for driving or feeding an envelope introduced into the entry slot 13 and engaged by belts and rolls to feed the envelope into the security chamber 19.

The pair of electric eyes 103 and 104 perform the same function as the limit switch 43 in H0. 3. Thus, the beam between units 103 and 104 senses when the leading edge of a deposit envelope reaches the location of the light beam and stops belt movement temporarily,

and then initiates the printing procedure which, when completed, again starts belt movement to feed the deposit envelope from the security chamber 19 into deposit chest 4.

Although the rocker type door 59 in each of the two embodiments of the invention is described as being rectangular, it may be U-shaped instead of rectangular with one long side member 61 and forward and rear barriers 62 and 63.

Accordingly, the concept and various aspects of the invention described in detail provide equipment and operations by which an unattended deposit station unit may be energized or activated at a remote location, and automatic operation thereof initiated by a bank customer through the use of various control means; in which maximum protection is provided for the material deposited, and the unit can use any form of deposit envelope up to a predetermined maximum size; in which a barrier at all times is provided between the slot where a deposit envelope is entered into the unit and the ultimate deposit chest into which the deposit envelope is discharged; in which the envelope is power conveyed automatically into and from a protective chamber and movement thereof is stopped for a time interval in the chamber for applying identifying indicia thereon simultaneously with applying the same identifying indicia to a portion of a paper tape which is delivered to the customer after discharge of the deposit envelope into the deposit chest; in which the movement of the deposit envelope is sensed during its course of movement through the unit to control subsequent stages of operation of the deposit cycle; in which the entry slot when opened closes automatically after a predetermined time interval if no deposit is made during such time interval; in which the operation of the various components of the mechanism is coordinated to protect the deposit at all times, once operation of the mechanism is initiated until the issuance of a receipt after the deposit has been discharged to the deposit chest; and in which equipment and a mode of operation are provided achieving the stated objectives, eliminating difficulties arising with prior devices, and solving problems and obtaining the described new results. Manifestly the operation of the various solenoid, motor, printer, switch and photoelectric cell components are coordinated and programmed using typical circuitry and electrical or electronic control devices automatically to operate the equipment in the manner described upon activation of the equipment.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of theprior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

For example, the actuation of printers 69 and 70 has been described as occurring simultaneously and as being synchronized. However, the important consideration is of applying the same identification indicia on both the envelope 87 and receipt 85 which is the kind of synchronism intended, it being clear that the printer 69 could be actuated first and then the printer 70, or vice versa.

Further, although the description indicates that the envelope 87 is stopped momentarily in the security chamber 19 while the deposit printer is actuated to apply the identification indicia; it is manifest that the printing operation can be carried out on-the-fly, without stopping movement of the envelope 87 in the securiy chamber.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the equipment is constructed and operated, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems, equipment, operations and relationships are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. ln bank depository construction of a type in which a deposit chest is formed by vault-like walls, in which a slot-like entry opening in one of the walls communicates through a security chamber having entry and exit ends with the deposit chest, and in which power driven conveyor means is operative to convey a deposit envelope from the entry opening through the security chamber and into the deposit chest; the combination of rocking door means mounted in the chest for movement between open and closed positions having spaced forward and rear barriers, the forward barrier in the open door means position blocking communication between the security chamber exit end and the deposit chest and establishing such communication when the door means is in closed position, and the rear barrier in the open door means position establishing communication between v the security chamber entry end and the entry. opening and blocking such communication when the door means is in closed position; power means in the chest for moving the door means to open and closed positions; and means accessible to a bank customer to actuate the door means power means to open the door means.

2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which indicia printing means is mounted in the chest adjacent the security chamber operative to print deposit envelope identifying indicia on a deposit envelope while in the security chamber and to separately print the same indicia on a receipt form; and in which means is provided to deliver the printed receipt form to an external customer station upon discharge of the deposit envelope into the deposit chest from the security chamber.

3. ln bank depository construction, walls forming a vault-like chest, a deposit unit extending through one of the chest walls having an exterior frame including a unit protective wall, a slot-like entry opening formed in the protective wall, a receipt-delivery opening formed in the protective wall, walls forming a security chamber in the unit having an entry end communicating with the entry opening and an exit end communicating with the chest; rocking door means mounted in the unit for movement between open and closed positions having spaced forward and rear barriers, the forward barrier in the open door means position blocking communication between the security chamber exit end and chest and establishing such communication when the door means is in closed position, and the rear barrier in the open door means position establishing communication between the security chamber entry end and the entry opening and blocking such communication when the door means is in closed position; power means in the unit for moving the door means to open and closed positions; power conveyor means activated upon opening the door means for moving a deposit envelope into, through and discharging it from the security chamber; means actuating the door means power means to move the door means to closed position upon arrival of the deposit envelope in the security chamber; deposit enve lope printing means in the unit operative upon closing the door means to apply identifying indicia on the deposit envelope while the envelope is in the security chamber; receipt form printing means in the unit operative to apply the same said identifying indicia on a receipt while the envelope is in the security chamber; means actuated upon discharge of the deposit envelope from the security chamber into the chest operative to deliver the receipt through the receipt delivery opening to the exterior of the unit; and means accessible for actuation by a bank customer operative when actuated to activate the door means power means to open the door means.

4. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the rocking door means rear barrier is formed with a slot which is aligned with the security chamber entry end and the slot-like entry opening when the door means is in open position.

5. The construction defined in claim 4 in which the slot-like entry opening, the receipt-delivery opening and the barrier slot are each transverse slots.

6. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the rocking door is a frame-like structure with at least one longitudinal side member and front and rear end members on the side member respectively forming the forward and rear barriers; in which the rocking door means is pivotally mounted intermediate the side member ends for rocking movement between open and closed positions; and in which rotary solenoid means forms the power means for moving the door means to open and closed positions.

7. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the walls forming the security chamber include upper and lower walls; in which the power conveyor means includes elements projecting into said chamber for moving a deposit envelope into, through and discharging it from the security chamber; and in which said upper and lower security chamber walls are formed with openings accommodating said elements.

8. The construction defined in claim 7 in which the security chamber walls are angled upwardly forwardly away from said slot-like entry opening; and in which said exterior frame includes a shelf-like platform extending upwardly in the same direction as and generally aligned with one of the upwardly-forwardly angled security chamber walls.

9. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the power conveyor means includes roll means projecting into the security chamber adjacent the entry end of the chamber engageable with a deposit envelope to convey the envelope into the security chamber.

10. The construction defined in claim 9 in which the roll means includes a lower driven roll and an upper follower roll; and in which the upper follower roll is spring biased downward toward the lower driven roll.

11. The construction defined in claim 10in which the conveyor means also includes a chain driven conveyor having pusher means engageable with a deposit envelope to discharge it from the security chamber.

12. The construction defined in claim 10 in which a limit switch is operatively connected with the springbiased follower roll; and in which the limit switch is actuated upon arrival of a deposit envelope in the security chamber to sense such arrival.

13. The construction defined in claim 12 in which actuation of the limit switch upon arrival of adeposit envelope in the security chamber activates .the power means for the door means to move the door means to closed position.

14. The construction defined in claim 9 in which the conveyor means comprises a driven belt for conveying a deposit envelope into, through and discharging it from the security chamber; and in which the roll means comprises follower rolls cooperating with the belt to impart conveying movement to a deposit envelope.

15. The construction defined in claim 14 in which light beam means is provided projecting a light beam across the security chamber to sense the arrival ofa deposit envelope in the chamber.

16. The construction defined in claim 15 in which interruption of the light beam upon arrival of a deposit envelope in the security chamber activates the power means for the door means to move the door means to closed position.

17. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the deposit envelope printing means includes indicia printing roll means communicating with the security chamber, and printing pressure platen means movable into the security chamber to press a deposit envelope against the printing roll means upon actuation of the printing means to apply identifying indicia on the deposit envelope.

18. The construction defined in claim 17 in which the deposit envelope printing means is actuated to apply identifying indicia on the deposit envelope upon movement of the door means to closed position.

19. The construction defined in claim 18 in which the door means is locked in closed position upon being moved to closed position.

20. The construction defined in claim 17 in which the receipt form printing means includes paper tape supply means, and means for moving the paper tape through the receipt form printing means; and in which the receipt form printing means has indicia printing roll means similar to the deposit envelope printing roll means.

21. The construction defined in claim 20 in which shear means normally closes the receipt delivery opening; and in which the shear means severs a printed receipt from the tape when delivered to the exterior of the unit through the receipt delivery opening.

22. The construction defined in claim 3 in which a discharge chute is mounted on the unit communicating with the exit end of the security chamber; in which light beam means projects a light beam across the discharge chute; and in which interruptions of the light beam by a deposit envelope discharged from the security chamber actuates the receipt form printing means to deliver the receipt through the receipt delivery opening.

23. The construction defined in claim 3 including door lock means locking the door means when in closed position, and means operative to unlock the door lock means when the door means power means is actuated to open the door means.

24. The construction defined in claim 3 in which control means for the deposit unit is provided operative to actuate the door means power means to move the door means to closed position within a predetermined time period after the door means has been opened, when a deposit envelope has not been entered through the entry slot during said predetermined time period.

25. The construction defined in claim 24 in which the predetermined time period is between 15 and 30 seconds.

26. The construction defined in claim 24 in which light beam means is provided projecting a light beam across the entry slot Opening, operative to prevent the door means from being moved to closed position when a deposit envelope is in a stage of being entered into the depository through the entry slot at the termination of said predetermined time period.

27. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the power conveyor means includes a chain driven conveyor having pusher means eng'ageable with a deposit envelope to discharge the envelope from the security chamber; in which the pusher means includes forward and rear pusher fingers; in which the forward pusher fingers normally project into the exit end of the security chamber when the door means is closed; and in which the forward door means barrier blocks said forward pusher fingers from movement when the door means is in open position. 

1. In bank depository construction of a type in which a deposit chest is formed by vault-like walls, in which a slot-like entry opening in one of the walls communicates through a security chamber having entry and exit ends with the deposit chest, and in which power driven conveyor means is operative to convey a deposit envelope from the entry opening through the security chamber and into the deposit chest; the combination of rocking door means mounted in the chest for movement between open and closed positions having spaced forward and rear barriers, the forward barrier in the open door means position blocking communication between the security chamber exit end and the deposit chest and establishing such communication when the door means is in closed position, and the rear barrier in the open door means position establishing communication between the security chamber entry end and the entry opening and blocking such communication when the door means is in closed position; power means in the chest for moving the door means to open and closed positions; and means accessible to a bank customer to actuate the door means power means to open the door means.
 2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which indicia printing means is mounted in the chest adjacent the security chamber operative to print deposit envelope identifying indicia on a deposit envelope while in the security chamber and to separately print the same indicia on a receipt form; and in which means is provided to deliver the printed receipt form to an external customer station upon discharge of the deposit envelope into the deposit chest from the security chamber.
 3. In bank depository construction, walls forming a vault-like chest, a deposit unit extending through one of the chest walls having an exterior frame including a unit protective wall, a slot-like entry opening formed in the protective wall, a receipt-delivery opening formed in the protective wall, walls forming a security chamber in the unit having an entry end communicating with the entry opening and an exit end communicating with the chest; rocking door means mounted in the unit for movement between open and closed positions having spaced forward and rear barriers, the forward barrier in the open door means position blocking communication between the security chamber exit end and chest and establishing such communication when the door means is in closed position, and the rear barrier in the open door means position establishing communication between the security chamber entry end and the entry opening and blocking such communication when the door means is in closed position; power means in the unit for moving the door means to open and closed positions; power conveyor means activated upon opening the door means for moving a deposit envelope into, through and discharging it from the security chamber; means actuating the door means power means to move the door means to closed position upon arrival of the deposit envelope in the security chamber; deposit envelope printing means in the unit operative upon closing the door means to apply identifying indicia on the deposit envelope while the envelope is in the security chamber; receipt form printing means in the unit oPerative to apply the same said identifying indicia on a receipt while the envelope is in the security chamber; means actuated upon discharge of the deposit envelope from the security chamber into the chest operative to deliver the receipt through the receipt delivery opening to the exterior of the unit; and means accessible for actuation by a bank customer operative when actuated to activate the door means power means to open the door means.
 4. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the rocking door means rear barrier is formed with a slot which is aligned with the security chamber entry end and the slot-like entry opening when the door means is in open position.
 5. The construction defined in claim 4 in which the slot-like entry opening, the receipt-delivery opening and the barrier slot are each transverse slots.
 6. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the rocking door is a frame-like structure with at least one longitudinal side member and front and rear end members on the side member respectively forming the forward and rear barriers; in which the rocking door means is pivotally mounted intermediate the side member ends for rocking movement between open and closed positions; and in which rotary solenoid means forms the power means for moving the door means to open and closed positions.
 7. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the walls forming the security chamber include upper and lower walls; in which the power conveyor means includes elements projecting into said chamber for moving a deposit envelope into, through and discharging it from the security chamber; and in which said upper and lower security chamber walls are formed with openings accommodating said elements.
 8. The construction defined in claim 7 in which the security chamber walls are angled upwardly forwardly away from said slot-like entry opening; and in which said exterior frame includes a shelf-like platform extending upwardly in the same direction as and generally aligned with one of the upwardly-forwardly angled security chamber walls.
 9. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the power conveyor means includes roll means projecting into the security chamber adjacent the entry end of the chamber engageable with a deposit envelope to convey the envelope into the security chamber.
 10. The construction defined in claim 9 in which the roll means includes a lower driven roll and an upper follower roll; and in which the upper follower roll is spring biased downward toward the lower driven roll.
 11. The construction defined in claim 10 in which the conveyor means also includes a chain driven conveyor having pusher means engageable with a deposit envelope to discharge it from the security chamber.
 12. The construction defined in claim 10 in which a limit switch is operatively connected with the spring-biased follower roll; and in which the limit switch is actuated upon arrival of a deposit envelope in the security chamber to sense such arrival.
 13. The construction defined in claim 12 in which actuation of the limit switch upon arrival of a deposit envelope in the security chamber activates the power means for the door means to move the door means to closed position.
 14. The construction defined in claim 9 in which the conveyor means comprises a driven belt for conveying a deposit envelope into, through and discharging it from the security chamber; and in which the roll means comprises follower rolls cooperating with the belt to impart conveying movement to a deposit envelope.
 15. The construction defined in claim 14 in which light beam means is provided projecting a light beam across the security chamber to sense the arrival of a deposit envelope in the chamber.
 16. The construction defined in claim 15 in which interruption of the light beam upon arrival of a deposit envelope in the security chamber activates the power means for the door means to move the door means to closed position.
 17. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the depOsit envelope printing means includes indicia printing roll means communicating with the security chamber, and printing pressure platen means movable into the security chamber to press a deposit envelope against the printing roll means upon actuation of the printing means to apply identifying indicia on the deposit envelope.
 18. The construction defined in claim 17 in which the deposit envelope printing means is actuated to apply identifying indicia on the deposit envelope upon movement of the door means to closed position.
 19. The construction defined in claim 18 in which the door means is locked in closed position upon being moved to closed position.
 20. The construction defined in claim 17 in which the receipt form printing means includes paper tape supply means, and means for moving the paper tape through the receipt form printing means; and in which the receipt form printing means has indicia printing roll means similar to the deposit envelope printing roll means.
 21. The construction defined in claim 20 in which shear means normally closes the receipt delivery opening; and in which the shear means severs a printed receipt from the tape when delivered to the exterior of the unit through the receipt delivery opening.
 22. The construction defined in claim 3 in which a discharge chute is mounted on the unit communicating with the exit end of the security chamber; in which light beam means projects a light beam across the discharge chute; and in which interruptions of the light beam by a deposit envelope discharged from the security chamber actuates the receipt form printing means to deliver the receipt through the receipt delivery opening.
 23. The construction defined in claim 3 including door lock means locking the door means when in closed position, and means operative to unlock the door lock means when the door means power means is actuated to open the door means.
 24. The construction defined in claim 3 in which control means for the deposit unit is provided operative to actuate the door means power means to move the door means to closed position within a predetermined time period after the door means has been opened, when a deposit envelope has not been entered through the entry slot during said predetermined time period.
 25. The construction defined in claim 24 in which the predetermined time period is between 15 and 30 seconds.
 26. The construction defined in claim 24 in which light beam means is provided projecting a light beam across the entry slot opening, operative to prevent the door means from being moved to closed position when a deposit envelope is in a stage of being entered into the depository through the entry slot at the termination of said predetermined time period.
 27. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the power conveyor means includes a chain driven conveyor having pusher means engageable with a deposit envelope to discharge the envelope from the security chamber; in which the pusher means includes forward and rear pusher fingers; in which the forward pusher fingers normally project into the exit end of the security chamber when the door means is closed; and in which the forward door means barrier blocks said forward pusher fingers from movement when the door means is in open position. 